Compact efficient all-solid-state eye-safe laser with self-frequency Raman conversion in a Nd:YVO_4 crystal

An efficient compact eye-safe laser at 1525 nm is presented by use of self-frequency Raman conversion in a diode-pumped actively Q-switched Nd:YVO4 1342-nm laser. At an incident pump power of 13.5 W, the self-stimulated Raman laser produces 1.2 W of 1525-nm average output power at a repetition rate of 20 kHz. The corresponding peak power at 1525 nm is generally greater than 10 kW for repetition rates from 5 to 20 kHz.